“Why do so many women need to read about interesting sex scenarios?” Well,why do so many men need to view porn?

The fact is that men are sexually aroused by visual images whereas women are stimulated by the spoken or written word. That is why so many women like to read romantic novels but couldn’t care less about porn and men are the complete opposite.

I have been following with interest all the comments about “Thirty Shades of Grey” and I might be the only woman on this blog who has bothered to read it (or who will admit to reading it.)

I first heard of this book months ago from a friend, who like myself, is an avid, eclectic reader. My friend is a well-educated professional woman (she lectures in the English Department at two local colleges here in Southern California) and she was reading it on her Kindle (which is probably what Michelle Muscat should have done if she had a brain in her head).

After that, it seemed like this book was everywhere. It was in the news, talk shows, on the internet . I knew it had become a national phenomena, when not only was it in bookstores but also at Cosco and in the aisle next to the milk and juice at my local supermarket.

For the longest time, I couldn’t be bothered to read it as I really didn’t think it was my cup of tea but finally I have to admit that I gave in to my curiousity. Fourty million women and counting have read this book worldwide. That is more than the “Harry Potter” books. Ultimately, I had to find out for myself what all the fuss was about. Yes, I could have taken the high road but life is short and at the end of the day, it is just a book.

I think the people on this blog are taking this book way too seriously. The author, E.L. James, wrote it for fun and as a way to deal with her midlife crisis. It was written as fanfiction based on the Twilight books of which she was a great fan. Originally, she published it one chapter at a time, on the internet where it found a following which eventually grew to such an extent that it lead to an e-back and later was published in its present form.

E.L James is not just a “mara tad-dar.” She has a degree in history, has worked as a television executive, is a mother of two and married to a screenwriter and director. Her husband edited the book.

So now we come to the book. Is it a great work of literature? Of course not, we all know that. However, reading the book is definitely not the same as reading reviews or other people’ s opinions.

I have to disagree with Daphne about the restaurant analogy. You can read or hear from friends how great a restaurant is but it is a whole other sensory experience when you are actually there. You have the visual experience of the environment and the taste and smelll of the food which contribute to the overall culinary experience.

So back to “Fifty Shades of Grey” which incidentally was originally going to be called “Seven Shades of Grey” but didn’t quite have the same ring. Yes, there is a lot of sex and yes, it is explicit but there actually is a story. OK, not the greatest story but more entertaining than I anticipated.

Surprisingly, nothing sexual happens until about a 100 pages, which is about a fifth of the way through the book. An attempt is made to develop the characters before all the sex starts to happen.

There is more of a love story than you might be lead to believe. Yes, it is pretty dysfunctional but from what I have heard and read, Christian does change over the course of books two and three because of his love for Ana. I haven’t decide yet whether I want to bother reading the sequels

So ladies, those of you who don’t want to read it, you are not missing that much. The other ladies, who want to read it because they are curious just as I was, don’t let anyone make you feel guilty or demonized just because you want to read a sexy book. We women are sexual creatures and sometimes reading a racey book can be entertaining.

As for the men out there, this book is not written for you. Silvio, I appreciate you wanting to keep up to date but I find that a 73 year old man reading “Fifty Shades of Grey” is kind of creepy.

Also, all you men on this blog, who have been so sanctimonious and judgmental about the women reading this book, I would like to know how many of you have never in your lives viewed porn in some media or other?

Interesting how that double standard continues to exists.

[Daphne – Yes, of course. It’s a phenomenon. Michelle Muscat is not.]

Dear Daphne, It’s never too late to learn.

Dear Daphne, actually I bought it for MYSELF.

I like keeping up to date (even at my age). It is a way of knowing what, apart from money, makes today’s woman tick.

Remember it was quite different in our days when some (not all) girls went bananas just seeing Roger Moore give that certain look.

How times change, but I find it my duty to keep adjourned, you can never tell what you can come in need of.

[Daphne – Silvio, might I point you in the direction of Ecclesiastes 3:1 (the Bible, not E L James)? There’s some invaluable advice there by which I swear. Those who don’t see the wisdom of it end up by making themselves utterly ridiculous. Sadly, that means very many people my age who were never ‘cool’ at 18 or 20 and who are trying desperately to be so now. Sadly for them, they are also doing it very publicly. Too late, my dears – too, too late. This also applies to men of 73 who buy and read Fifty Shades of Grey.]

What makes me laugh, actually smile not laugh, is none of the woman, Daphne included, who comment on this book, did read it. It’s all what they heard.

If they didn’t read it how can they comment on it?

[Daphne – Oh, very easily, Franco. We read the reviews, verdicts and opinions of people whose judgement we trust. There are other ways, too. How an you tell whether a restaurant is good or bad without actually eating there? There are clues which many people can read.]

This is 2012, haven ‘t you yet accustmed youselves to the fact that you are now free to make fools of youselves as much as you want?
P.S.
If you go and buy it, you can always pretend you thought it was a cookery book.

[Daphne – Silvio, why do I suspect that you were one of the men who bought it at Agenda and made a point of telling the shop assistant that you bought it for your wife?]

Today, 17:21

Here’s the thing – WHY do so many women need to read about interesting sex scenarios? This is the big question. The answer may be that women are enjoying sex vicariously through this book and it should worry all men who think they are satisfying their women.” http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120819/local/Fifty-Shades-of-Grey-tops-Malta-s-list-of-bestsellers.433379

You forgot ”Deep Throat” the ”Emanuelle” series and that all time classic – the Queen Esther account from the Old Testament.